Online Reporter
ARSENAL can move within touching distance of the English Premier League football crown before title rivals Manchester City next play as a gripping race enters its final stretch.
The Gunners will be fancied to beat relegated Burnley on Monday night and move five points clear of second-placed City, who travel to Bournemouth the following day.
Tottenham and West Ham remain locked in a desperate battle to avoid relegation, while European places are still up for grabs. Manchester City are on a 14-game unbeaten run in the English Premier League, but it may not be enough to overhaul Arsenal.
City appeared to have the upper hand after they beat the Gunners last month, but a 3-3 draw at Everton last week could ultimately prove fatal. Pep Guardiola, whose team face Chelsea in the FA Cup final today, admits all City can do is stay alive in the title race and hope the leaders slip up.
City are two points behind Arsenal with two games left, but have a marginally better goal difference and have scored seven more goals. Coach Mikel Arteta said Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat at City had proved to be a “reset moment” for his team, who have won all three of their league matches since without conceding a goal.
“We used that as fuel to be even more convinced and to understand that what we’ve done up to now is fine, let’s learn every bit of it,” he said.
With the lessons learnt, Arsenal hope to move to the brink of their first Premier League title since 2004.
Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi believes the battle to avoid the drop will go to the final day despite the club’s recent uptick in form.
The north London side were on track for victory against Leeds earlier this week, but were left clinging on, grateful to goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky for a late wonder save in a 1-1 draw.
Tottenham are still favourites to stay up, with a priceless two-point advantage over 18th-placed West Ham.
But if West Ham beat Newcastle tomorrow, Tottenham would be back in the bottom three when they kick off at Chelsea on Tuesday. – AFP Sport.
